Spring teeter



Patented Oct. 7, 1924.

UNITED STATES HARVEY M. SYKES, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO.

srnrne a nn'rna.

Application filed January 8, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY M. SYKEs, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, havemade an invention appertaining to a Spring Teeter, which invention isfully set forth in the following specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a spring teeter forelastically supporting children whereby they may enjoy the pleasure ofbeing rapidly raised and lowered, an experience that makes the wellknown teeter such a desirable pleasure for children. By my invention isprovided a means whereby a single child may have the pleasure ofteetering, while in the well known teeter two or more children arerequired to counter-balance the teeter board. The invention alsoprovides a means where- 'by the weight of the child is automaticallycounter-balanced, the eflect being merely to depress the teeter slightlymore in the, case of a child of heavier weight.

Constructions containing the invention may be varied in the structure oftheir details. To illustrate a practical application of the invention Ihave selected a construction containing the invention as an example andshall describe it hereinafter. The construction selected for purposes ofillustration is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates a topview of the spring teeter.Fig. 2 illustrates a side View.

In the figures, 1 indicates a board that constitutes the base or supportof the teeter. At one end of the board is provided a suitable pedestalor bracket. The pedestal or bracket may be secured to the board 1. Asshown in the figures, the bracket is a bar bentin the shape of aninverted U. The bracket 2 is provided with the sides 3 and the top 4.The lower ends of the sides 3 are bent laterally so as to receive thebolts 5 by means of which the bracket is secured to the board 1. A brace6 extends diagonally from the corner formed between one of the sides 3and the top 4: and located near the end of the board 1. The brace 6 issecured by bolts 7 to the sides 3.

Two tempered steel springs 8 and 9 are secured by bolts 10 to the top 4of the bracket 2. The spring 8 extends substantially the length of theboard 1. Its free Serial No. 611,235.

end is provided with a cross board or seat 11. The child who uses thedevice may be seated upon the board 11 and the spring 8 will be slightlydepressed. The child may be supported by the elasticity of the spring 8.The spring 9 extends diagonally upward and its outer end portion 12 isbent to substantially horizontal, that is, at an angle to the bodyportion of the spring 9. To the end of the spring 9 is secured a crossbar or wooden handle 13, the ends of which may be grasped by the childseated on the board'll. Pulling on the handle 13 will transfer a largepart of the weight of the child from the spring 8 to the spring 9, whichcauses the pressure of the spring 9 and elevation of the spring 8.Releasing ofthe weight or pull on the handle 13 will cause the spring 8to again be depressed, the releasement occurring when the spring 8has'been raised to its uppermost position. Releasement causes the spring8 to be depressed, and by reason of the momentum produced it will bedepressed considerably below the point that it will be depressed by theweight of the child alone. Repeated operations on the spring 9 occurringsubstantially synchronous with the limits of the movements of the spring8 will produce the bounding efiect which gives the child the pleasurableexperience sought and which is not produced in the ordinary teeterboard, the teeter board producing only that up-and-down springingmovement, but not the bounding movement which is more highly appreciatedby the child.

I claim:

1. In a spring teeter, a pair of tempered.

steel springs, a supporting board, means'for connecting an end of eachofthe springs to one end of the board, one of the springs for supportinga person well above the HARVEY M. SYKES.

